Managers, Leadership and Decision Making

Question 1

What is management?

Answer 1

Getting things done by organising other people to do it. Managers organise and motivate staff into implementing the strategies/tactics to achieve business objectives.

Question 2

What are the different types of leadership?

Answer 2

• Autocratic
• Democratic
• Laissez Faire
• Paternalistic

Question 3

Describe an autocratic leader

Answer 3

• Leader makes decisions without reference to anyone else
• High degree of dependency on the leader
• Can create de-motivation and alienation of staff
• Decisions are made quickly

Question 4

Describe a democratic leader

Answer 4

• Encourages decision making from different perspectives
• Leaders consult before decisions are made
• May help motivation
• Workers feel ownership of their ideas
• Improves sharing of ideas
• Can delay decision making

Question 5

Describe laissez faire leadership

Answer 5

• Responsibilities are shared by all
• Can be useful in organisations where creative ideas are important
• Can be motivational as people have control over their working lives
• Can make decision making time consuming and lacking in direction
• Relies on good teamwork and interpersonal relationships

Question 6

Describe paternalistic leadership

Answer 6

• Employees are consulted but leader makes all decisions
• Leader acts as a father figure
• Close supervision but attempts are made to gain respect of staff
• Type of authoritarian management but the manager attempts to look after the needs of subordinates
• Workers recognise that manager is trying to support their needs

Question 7

What are the factors affecting leadership styles?

Answer 7

• The task
• Tradition and culture of the organisation
• Type of labour force
• Group size
• Leader’s personality
• Groups personality
• Time availible to complete the task
• Companys structure

Question 8

What is the Tannenbaum Schmidt Continnum?

Answer 8

A model that highlights the range of different management styles that are being adopted, ranging from a tell approach to the one that involves delegation

Question 9

What is the Blake Mouton grid?

Answer 9

Model highlights the different management styles according to the leaders focus on the task and the people within the business

Question 10

Describe a country club leader

Answer 10

Has the most concern for people - if people are happy they will work hard

Question 11

Describe an impoverished leader

Answer 11

Least concern for people and production

Question 12

Describe a middle of the road leader

Answer 12

Balanced concern for people and production

Question 13

Describe a team leader

Answer 13

Stresses the importance of high production and employee satisfaction

Question 14

Describe a produce or perish leader

Answer 14

Employees are simply a means to an end and their needs are always secondary to efficiency and productivity

Question 15

What is scientific decision making?

Answer 15

A systematic approach of collecting facts and applying logical decision making techniques

Made in circumstances of uncertainty and where the outcome will have a major impact on the medium to long term future of the organisation

Question 16

What is intuitive decision making?

Answer 16

Using a combination of experience and feel for the future to make decisions

Question 17

What are the advantages of intuitive decision making?

Answer 17

• make decisions quickly
• logical
• qualitative
• more enthusiastic
• less cost
• more understanding

Question 18

what are the advantages of scientific decision making?

Answer 18

• accurate
• evidence
• methodical
• forces lots of research
• financial stability
• keep reviewing and checking decisions
• easier to obtain finance

Question 19

what are the factors in the scientific Decision-making model?

Answer 19

• set objectives
• gather data
• analyse data
• select
• implement
• review